Explaining Epilepsy to a Friend

In America, Epilepsy is as common as Breast Cancer, and takes as many lives.

Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Parkinson’s Disease combined.

One in 10 people will suffer a seizure in their lifetime.

One in 100 people will develop Epilepsy.

Is epilepsy a disease?

No, epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system, specifically the brain.

Is epilepsy contagious?

No, epilepsy is not contagious. You can’t “catch” epilepsy from another person.

What is epilepsy?

It’s like a storm in the brain. Seizures happen when there is unusual electrical activity. Your brain cells are constantly sending out electrical signals that travel along nerves to the rest of the body.

These signals tell the muscles to move. During a seizure, a person’s muscles tighten and relax rapidly or stop moving completely. Seizures…